Throughout Virginia Beach and Norfolk, there are large concentrations of students who are not financially able to purchase food every day; these students are zoned for specific schools around the city and are referred to as ‘ Title 1 Schools.’ 

At a Title 1 school, over half of the student population participates in government subsidized free or reduced lunch. Many of these schools including Parkway and Cooke Elementary Schools have adapted the “Beach Bag Program,” a program designed to provide students with take home lunches. However, many still want or need extra food.

In effort to assist these elementary students, History teacher Mr. Hahn recently met with Parkway Elementary School Counselor Anne Johnson to discuss a way to replenish depleting resources. such as bagged lunches to send home with students.

“In addition to the Beach Bag program, many students ask for extra food or snacks on Friday afternoons and it means so much to be able to provide them with that. When students arrive after breakfast and it is no longer being served, it it important to provide them with a small snack or breakfast item so they are able to focus,” Johnson said.

So, the Falcon Baseball and Field Hockey teams, the Rho Kappa Honor Society, and SCA rallied to support this program at Parkway Elementary. Students collaborated to collect non-perishable food items that were accessible for students and easy to transport.

Moreover, many breakfast items were donated that have equally impacted students’ daily lives.

“The opportunity to help elementary school kids who are in need of food is a great way to give back to and strengthen the community as a whole; the act has a positive impact on all of us,” senior baseball player South Trimble said.